Justin Tuck '50-50' for Rams game

Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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The New York Giants defensive end sat out the season opening 28-14 loss to the Redskins with pain in his neck lingering from a stinger he suffered two weeks ago in a preseason game against the Jets.

"I would say I am 50-50 right now just because it hasn't gotten any better yet since yesterday," the defensive captain said in an interview with WFAN radio. "It is going to have to really be hurting or be a situation where I can tremendously injure it more to hold me out on Monday night. I don't like being on the sideline."

Tuck said that team doctors examined his neck an hour before the game on Sunday and decided to wait another week "to hopefully let it completely quiet down instead of re-aggravating it and missing a month."

"It had been progressing and it kind of got stagnant," Tuck said in the interview. "As of right now it just isn't getting any better. It is better than what it was a week ago, but the last couple of days heading up to the game ... it kind of got stagnant. That is where we are."

Tuck did report that defensive end Osi Umenyiora began running on Monday. Umenyiora is still recovering from minor knee surgery last month. Without the two star defensive ends, the Giants started Jason Pierre-Paul and Dave Tollefson. Pierre-Paul had two sacks and a forced fumble while Tollefson collected a sack as well.

Coach Tom Coughlin said both defensive ends must be cleared by team doctors to resume practicing this week.

"We will see," Coughlin said on Tuck. "The plan is to progress. If the doctor gives him the OK, then he goes and practices. I would like to see him practice."